122 Jitiirnal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Feb., 1918. 



THE STABLED HORSE. 



Some Vices and Whims. 



Many horses liave the habit of rolling in the stable. This is some- 

 what dangerous for the horse, as he is likely to get fast, particularly if 

 his stall is rather narrow. When the horse attempts to roll and stays 

 over on his back the stall is too narrow for him to go on over, so he cannot 

 get up, and as it is often impossible for him to roll back, he gets fast. 

 The longer he struggles while lying on his back the worse his condition 

 becomes. This habit is due, perhaps, to lack of opportunity to roll. 



The horse should be turned to a paddock for a few minutes each 

 evening, so that he may frolic. To overcome the habit, secure a small 

 ring and set it in the top of the halter. Suspend a small rope from a 

 beam or the ceiling so that it will hang directely over the horse's 

 shoulders when standing at the manger. Attach a snap to the lower 

 end of the rope and snap into the ring at the top of the halter. This 

 rope should be of sufficient length to allow the horse to get his nose to 

 the ground about where his front feet usually stand. This appliance will 

 permit the horse to lie down, get up, and do as much as he likes, but he 

 cannot place the top of his head to the ground. As he cannot roll with- 

 out first placing the top of his head on the ground, this is a very efficient 

 arrangement for overcoming the habit. 



Pawix(t with the Foke-feet. 



This is a disagreeable habit, usually due to insufficient exercise or to 

 restlessness when the animal is left alone in the stable. It causes useless 

 fatigue and a rapid Avearing out of the shoes. The noise that the horse 

 makes while pawing is almost unbearable, especially at night. To avoid 

 the habit exercise the horse regiilarly. To overcome it, buckle a leg strap 

 around the foreleg just above the knee, and from it suspend a block of 

 wood about two inches square and four inches long, so that it will hang 

 about the middle of the cannon. 



When the horse attempts to paw, the block strikes him. In case the 

 horse is very sensitive, substitute a corncob for the block. Another good 

 plan is to use a heavy strap provided with a buckle at either end and 

 buckle the two forelegs together. This strap should be of the proper 

 length to permit the horse to stand normally. With this appliance he 

 can lie down, get up, move backward and forward, but is unable to paw. 

 Some horses that paw badly in a common stall will cease if placed in a 

 box stall, particularly if bedded with sawdust. 



Rubbing the Tail. 



Many horses acquire the habit of rubbing the tail against the sides 

 of the stall or other surrounding objects. This is very undesirable, a.s 

 the hairs soon become tangled, break off, and disfigure the tail While 

 there may be several causes for it, the principal ones are intestinal 

 troubles, mange or ^mclean skin, causing intense itching, and infirmities 



